Rod deck screen



`Apr'il 28, 1953 A A. J. ROUBAL 2,636,607

Ron DECK SCREEN Eiled April 12, 1949 pll 28, 1953 A. J. RouBAL 2,636,607

Ron DECK SCREEN Filed April 12, 1949 2 SHEETS- mfr 2 L' En XL1 L 44;

v@LM/1f s-42 l lll ll x `Patented Apr. 28, .1953

ROD DECK SCREEN Alexander J. Roubal, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application April 12, 1949, Serial No. 87,036

8 Claims.

This invention relates to screens, speciflcally to the vibratory type employing a rod deck structure, and more particularly to the means for supporting the ends of the rods. The principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved screens of this type.

Heretofore it had been customary to support the ends of rods by some means that necessarily protruded above the screening surface. The protruding supports were subjected to the continual action of the material owing over them, and therefore evidenced rapid wear, which not only required frequent replacement of the worn parts, but also caused considerable delay by reason of shutdowns for repairs. Furthermore the protrusions presented obstructions in the path of the flow of the material which retarded screening operations, and hence decreased the efficiency of the unit. Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is the provision of new and improved rod deck screens which obviate these undesirable results.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and eicient means for supporting screening rods.

Other objects Will appear hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds.

.The novel features of the invention and how the objects are attained will appear from this specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and all these novel features are intended to be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

-f Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a screen embodying the invention with the major portion of the right side plate removed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken view of the center portion of the screening deck;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view end of the deck;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the discharge end of the deck;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view showing the rods in interdigitated supported position;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of a rod end spacer block taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of an intermediate spacer block for supporting portions of rods, and takenl along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the intermediate spacer block shown in Fig. 8;

V`Fig.- 10 is another embodiment of a double support cross member;

of the feed Fig. 11 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 10 taken along the line XI-XI of Fig. l0;

Fig. 12 is another embodiment of a double'support cross member, taken along the line XII- XII of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 12 taken along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. l2;

Fig. 14 is a cross section of a rod end spacer block taken along the line XIV-.XW of Fig. 13 with the rods omitted;

Fig. 15 is another embodiment of a rod end spacer block wherein the rod receiving lgrooves are continuous; o

Fig. 16 is a plan view of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 1'7 is a side elevation of Fig. 15.

Similar parts shown in the various embodiments of the invention are indicated by like numerals with the sufiix a, b or c added thereto.

Referring generally to Fig. l, the screen 20 preferably, but not necessarily, comprises three rod deck sections disposed` on a straight line slope to the horizontal. Each deck section is secured in longitudinal spaced sets within a screen body 2l characterized by right and left hand side members 22, 23, respectively, looking in the direction of flow, which is suspended lfrom an overhead structure 24 by suspension cables 26 and compression springs 2l. A vibratory mechanism 28 is mounted under the center rod deck section, but may be positioned at other points in the screen body 2| to impart a motion most desirable for the type of material being screened. A driving means 29, of any suitable type, `may be secured to the overheadstructure 24 as shown,

for transmitting actuating power to the vibratorv mechanism 28.

Rigidly connected to the right and leftv side' members 22, 23, respectively, at spaced intervals, are cross members comprising a feed end member 32, discharge end member 33, intermediate. members 34, and double support members The feed end member 32 and the discharge end member 33 are v,each provided with a transversely extending angle 36 having an upright leg porting surface 42. The ledge 4l i-s slightly inclined with respect to the straight line slope of the rod deck sections for receiving compiementary inclined surfaces 43 of rod end spacer blocks 44.

The rod end spacer blocks 44 are" aided in retaining their position ledge 4I byy a' portion of the upright leg `4 6 extending beyond =the`adjacent portion of the ledge 4l.

end spacer blocks 44 thereon in a wedge retaining manner.

The intermediate members 35i are characterized by lateral angles 47 longitudinally spaced between the feed member 32 or discharge member 33, and the respective nearest double support member 35, and between adjacent double support' members 35. The end of the upright leg` 4B of the lateral angles di, receives an intermediate spacer block 5S which will hereinafter be more fully described. f

The screen 29 comprises a plurality of rods 5I which when heldin flexed condition form a crown screening surface. Normally, the rods 5i are initially rectilinear but may be initially slightly flexed or bent. The degree of final lexure is determined by the relative difference in height between the downwardly faced supporting surfaces 42 and the intermediate spacer blocks 5G.

The end portions of the rods 5i are received in grooves 52 formed in the rod end spacer blocks 44 desirably of yieldable compressible material, such as rubber. The grooves 52 are spaced in parallel relation and inclined at an angle generally equal to the angle of iiexure the rods 5I assume. The extreme ends of the rods 5l are supported against the downwardlyfaced supporting surfaces i2 of the inwardly turned portions of the ledges All. By reason of the fact that the extreme ends of the rods 5i are supported by the surfaces 42., and as shown in the drawings, the spacer' blocks dll are spaced from said extreme ends, insertion and removal of the respective rods is made very easy. The downwardly faced supporting surfaces t2 are `preferably but not neeessarily inclined at the same angle to which the rods 5i are flexed, in order to insure parallel surface contact with the rods and thus reducel excessive Wear.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, r

it is seen that the rod end spacer blocks til are provided with receses 53, alternating with nipples 5 integral therewith. The recesses 53 are directlyunder grooves 52J whereas the adjacent nipples 54 are in alignment with recesses 53 and are positioned, respectively, between the grooves. The rod end spacer blocks d6 lying on the inclined ledges il of the double support members 35y are interengaged with each other through the means of the nipples 54 and recesses 53 to maintain cooperative transverse alignment between the respective oppositely inclined grooves 52.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the intermediate spacer blocks S, also desirably of yieldable compressible material, such as rubber, which are provided with laterally spaced indentations El for receiving portions of the rods 5i between their ends. Each intermediate spacer block Sil may be reinforced by a suitable material, here shown as a strip of metal 58 vulcanized to the block to prevent lateral stretching. The eiect of the vibrating forces upon the rods El wouldy have the tendency to otherwise distort the intermediate spacer :block 50 to an extent where close separation of different sized particles would` not be had; Fig. 8

shows the original shape of a slot 59 icut into the bloei; Eil which when positioned ower the end of the transverse leg 48 of the intermediate member causes block 552 to clampingly engage the and hence fastens itself thereto.

The vibrating screen 2o herein described discloses. a structure in which the vrods 5i are individually inserted in parallel relation to each other to orin the decl; proper. For example, one end of a rod 5l is first positioned in a groove 52 of the rod end spacer block d carried by the feed end member 32, and sumciently ilexed to permit the opposite end to be inserted in a cooperating inclined groove of a rod end spacer bloclr. filidisposed nearest the discharffe end of the screenen a double support member 35 closest the feed `end member.

The rods 5l may be similarly inserted in another of the two remaining rod deck sections, for example, as follows. One end of a rod 5i may be inserted in a groove 52 of the rod end spacer block it carried by the discharge end member 33, and adequately flexed to permit the other end of the rod to be received in a cooperating groove of a rod end spacerblock ed disposed nearest-the feed end member 32 on a double support' member 35 closest the discharge end member.

The remaining or center rod deck section mayv be completed by receiving rods 5i in a manner such that the rodends are inserted in the grooves 52 of rod end spacer blocks Mlwhich are farthest apart and mounted or carried by the double support members d5.

Apparently the rods 5l comprising the screening surface may be inserted in various other` ways than that above described and hence the description herein is not to be construed as a limitationupon the invention. It is also readily apparent' that the ends of the rods 5t, when accordinglypositioned, will bear upwardly against the downwardly faced supporting surfaces l2 of the ledgesy lil of the members 32, 33 and 35, whereas sectionsV of the rods between the ends will bea-r downwardly in thespaced indentations 5l of theintermediate spacer blocks 5i? secured to the intermediate members 34'.

The nally assembled rods 5 t, having their end portions in upward bearing relationship with'- the downwardly faced supporting surfacesL 42 of ledges A of the double support members 35, are related analogously to freely, loosely interdigiftated fingers oi' two hands. The term is usedi herein in that sense, and hence the rod end portions lie beneath the screening surface of the rods 5i. The inwardly turned.` portions ofthe ledges il bearing the end portions ofthe rodsfi alsoplie beneath the screening surface', and thereby' any obstruction to the iow of material over the-rods is eliminated. It is to. benoted also that the endl portions. of the rods Eli lying'bene'ath the screening surface rest not only in the bottom of the grooves 52, but also upon the segmented surface 56 which forms an inclined surface generallyparallel to the angle ofv flexure of` the rods. That is to say the surface portionsv between grooves 525 of each block 44 forman inclinedl plane to provide a resting Vsurface for rods disposedin the grooves' of the adjacent blocklll.

In operation, the material flows smoothlyover' the rods 5l without passing over any obstruction.. other than `at the discharge end, and' hence a. reduction inthe cost of' maintenance is experi'- enced since no supportsare subject to wear from the material being screened. `Furthermora.the' rod end Iand intermediate spacer blocks 4B, 50,

respectively, are firmly held in place by the spring tension in the r-ods 5I themselves, without the aid of other permanent supporting means.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. and 11. Here a rod end spacer block 44a receivable on a double support member 35a, is comprised of one piece of yieldable compressible material. It is provided with a dovetail portion 62 which is carried in a complementary groove E3 formed by outward oppositely extended ledges Illa.. The ends -of the rods Ela rest upon an inclined plane 56a slightly elevated from the arcuate portion 64 of the groove 52a. in which it is receivable. Hence the rod Sla is not as restricted in its vibratory motions as the rods 5I are in the rst embodiment of the invention, which may be more advantageous for the screening `o -certain types of material.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, wherein the rod end spacer block Mb is received on a plane 65 of outwardly extended ledges Alb. The rods 5l?) rest in grooves 52h having a depth no greater than the diameter of the rods themselves, and upon inclined planes 56h, relatively shorter than the inclined planes 56, 56a of the rst two embodiments of the invention, lying between the grooves receiving the rods of the next longitudinal section. This rod end spacer block 1Mb functions similarly to the preferred embodiment of the invention and differs merely in affording slightly less resting surface on the inclined plane 56h.

Still another embodiment is illustrated in Figs. l5, 16 and 17, wherein a rod end spacer block 44e is provided with continuous inclined grooves 52C and hence differs from all other embodiments herein described in that the rods are not provided with inclined resting planes.

It is readily understood that all of the variants of the preferred embodiment will function substantially in the same manner as the preferred embodiment, and accordingly further detailed description is unnecessary.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiments of the invention provide new and improved rod deck screens and accordingly accomplish the objects of the invention. On the other hand, it will also be obvious to those skilled in the art, that the illustrated embodiments of the invention may be variously changed and modified, or features thereof, singly or collectively, embodied in other combinations than those illustrated, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or sacricing all of the advantages thereof, and that accordingly the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and the invention is not limited thereto.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A screen structure, comprising: a frame extending longitudinally from a feed end to a discharge end; a plurality of parallel rods extending longitudinally of said frame, said rods being positioned in longitudinally spaced sets, each set comprising a plurality of rods spaced laterally from each other` to provide a screening surface, and end portions of the rods of a first set and end portions of the rods of a second set adjacent to said first set being interdigitated so that the upper surfaces of said end portions lie beneath the screening surfaces of said adjacent sets; and means for holding said rods positioned as aforesaid on said frame.

2. A screen structure, comprising: a frame extending longitudinally from a feed end to a discharge end; a plurality of parallel rods extending longitudinally of said frame, said rods being positioned in longitudinally spaced sets, each set comprising a plurality, of rods spaced laterally from each other to provide a screening surface, and end portions of the rods of a first set and end portions of the rods of a second set adjacent to said rst set being interdigitated so that the upper surfaces of said end portions lie beneath the screening surfaces of said adjacent sets; and means for holding said rods positioned as aforesaid on said frame, said means including parts in engagement with said upper surfaces.

3. A screen structure, comprising: a frame eX- tending longitudinally from a feed end to a discharge end; a plurality of parallel rods extending longitudinally of said frame, said rods being positioned in longitudinally spaced sets, each set comprising a plurality of rods spaced laterally from each other to provide a screening'surface, and end portions of the rods of a first set and end portions of the rods of a second set adjacent to said first set being interdigitated s0 that the upper surfaces of said end portions lie beneath the screening surfaces of said adjacent sets, the rods of each set being in upwardly flexed conditions relatively to said frame; and means for holding said rods positioned as aforesaid and in said flexed condition on said frame.

4. A screen structure, comprising: a frame extending longitudinally from a feed end to a discharge end; a plurality of parallel rods extending longitudinally of said frame, said rods being positioned in longitudinally spaced sets, each set comprising a plurality of rods spaced laterally from each other to provide a screening surface, and end portions of the rods of a first set and end portions of the rods of a second set adjacent to said first set being interdigitated so that the upper surfaces of said end portions lie beneath the screening surfaces of said adjacent sets, the rods of each set being in upwardly flexed conditions relatively to said frame; and means for holding said rods positioned as aforesaid and in said flexed condition on said frame, said means including parts in engagement with said upper surfaces of said end portions.

5. A screen structure, comprising: a frame extending longitudinally from a feed end to a discharge end; a plurality of parallel rods extending longitudinally of said frame, said rods being positioned in longitudinally spaced sets, each set comprising a plurality of rods spaced laterally from each other to provide a screening surface, and end portions of the rods of a first set and end portions of the rods of a second set adjacent to said rst set being interdigitated so that the upper surfaces of said end portions lie beneath the screening surfaces of said adjacent sets, the rods of each set being in upwardly flexed conditions relatively to said frame; and means for holding said rods positioned as aforesaid and in said flexed condition on said frame, said means including parts in engagement with said upper surfaces of said end portions of the rods of said sets respectively, and parts forming ledges spaced from said end portions of the rods of said sets respectively, and resilient material interposed between the underside of the respective end portions of the respective sets of rods and the respective said ledges.

6. A screen structure, comprising: a frame extending longitudinally from a feed end to a 7 discharge endj "a'plurality of parallel J'rodsf err-f4 tending longitudinally of'said. frame, said rods being positioned in longitudinally spaced f sets. each set comprising-a plurality o1 rods spaced laterally from each otherto provide afscreene ingsurface, and* end portions. of the rods of a rst set and endv portions of the rods of assecond' set adjacent -tosaid first set ybeingA interdigitated so that the Vupper surfaces of said end portions lie beneath the screening -surfaces of said adjacent sets, the rods of each set being in upwardly flexediconditions relatively tov said frame; and means `fory vholdingsaid rods positioned as aforesaid and in said nexed condition on said frame-saidv means including parts in engagement with said-upper surfacesA of said end portions ofthe rods of said; sets respecitivelm.andV

parts formingv ledges spaced? yfrom said end' portionsiol-the rods-of said sets respectively, fand resilientwmaterial interposed? between the under side or" the respective`r` end portions of 'i the 1re spective sets of rods and the respective :said ledges, said" resilient material v having two sets of grooves receiving-said respective sets of end por holding said rods on'said` frame, said holding means including a metallic portion extending transversely `over corresponding extreme ends of saldrods-andn engagement therewith,and a metallic portion extending underneath corresponding end portionswof`- said rods and forming' av ledge spacedv fromi said end portions; and spacing means for spacing said' end portions laterally from eachother comprising a body of resilient` material 'interposed `between and in engagement witllv the under side of said end portions and said ledge and spaced from said extreme ends.

8. In Va screen structure comprising a frame and a plurality of parallel rods spaced laterally from each other to form a screening surface; and means, mountedron said frame, for releasably holding said rods on said frame. said holding means including a metallic portion extending transversely over corresponding extreme ends of said rods and in engagement therewith, and a. metallic'porti'on extending underneath corresponding endportions of said rods and forming a ledge spaced fromsaid end portions; andspacingf means' for spacing said end portions laterallyfrom-each other comprising a body of resilient material interposed between and in engagement with the under side of said end portions and said ledge, said body being spaced from isaid extreme endsvand having grooves receiving said' end portions of said rods, said grooves having their axes in a plane inclined with respect to the general plane of said frame.

ALEXANDER J. ROUBAL.

References Cited in the Ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,050 Wulfert e Sept. 29, 18851 2,172,551 Symons Sept. 12, 1939 2,308,572 Symons Jan. 19, 1943l 2,374,775 Parks May l, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,083 Australia Oct. 30, 1941 

